Semarang’s Old City, or Kota Lama, is one of the city’s most distinctive heritage areas where the traces of colonial history remain visible in everyday life. The district is marked by well-preserved buildings such as Gereja Blenduk with its characteristic dome and the red-brick Marba Building. Along its main streets, former trading houses and offices have been adapted into cafés, galleries, and shops, allowing visitors to experience the city’s past while observing how these spaces continue to serve present-day needs.
The history of Kota Lama goes back to the 17th century, when the Dutch East India Company (VOC) established Semarang as a fortified trading post along Java’s northern coast. The Old City grew as the center of administration, commerce, and defense, enclosed by walls and canals that separated it from the surrounding settlements. In the 18th and 19th centuries, banks, warehouses, and religious buildings were constructed here, reflecting Semarang’s role as a key port connecting Java with international trade routes. Over time, the city expanded beyond the old walls, but Kota Lama remained a symbol of Semarang’s colonial past and multicultural heritage, where different communities and traditions met and interacted through trade and daily life.
